Private-public health handshake for moms

Jamshedpur, July 17: Public-private partnerships seem to be on the upswing in the health sector.

The district administration would soon collaborate with two well-known private sector hospitals to provide quality health care to mothers in Jamshedpur.

To be tied up under the central government health scheme, Janani Suraksha Yojna, the district administration is signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tata Main Hospital (TMH) and Tata Motors Hospital.

The health scheme, which runs under the name of the Mukhyamantri Janani Shishu Swasthya Abhiyaan, is targeted to provide financial assistance to the expectant mothers at the time of giving birth to children.

“It is often not possible for poor families to bear the entire expenses on their own. The success of this scheme would lie in the fact that it would provide quality healthcare at nominal expenses,” said Sanjay Kishore Ravi, the civil surgeon of East Singhbhum.

While the scheme provides an assistance of Rs 100 at the time of registration, the amount at the time of delivery is Rs 700 for the new mothers.

Thereafter, another amount of Rs 300 is given as a package amount for one-year-course of immunisation.

The amount goes up to Rs 1500 if the mother has to undergo the complex Caesarean operation for the delivery of the baby.

Sources at the district health department confirmed that the health scheme is an integral part of the National Rural Health Mission.

“Our effort is to reach out to the maximum number of people across a varied cross-section,” added Ravi.

The fact that many poor families approach the TMH and the Tata Motors Hospital prompted the district authorities to make the proposed collaboration.

Significantly, the district has till date, tied up with 13 lesser-known private hospitals across the district.

These include private nursing homes at Ghatsila and Behragora.